Welsh slate - Folkart Comenius

Welsh Architecture and its influences over the centuries

Sain Ffagan: Amgueddfa Werin Cymru - St Fagans: National History Museum YouTube

Our research has shown that thatched roofs was a technique used through the centuries until slate was discovered to be a more reliable roof. Our presentation will show you how our architecture has developed over the centuries. You may even recognise some of the buildings!

A Welsh thatched longhouse, named Swtan, dating back to the 16th century. Originally used by crofting families and now restored and open to the public

Ty Hyll / The Ugly House

• These resulted from the old custom of claiming property rights if a house is built in one night with a fire burning in the hearth by sunrise ! This was known as Ty un Nos or 'house in a night'.

The history of the Ugly House (Ty Hyll) is very vague. Putting a guide book together about it was very difficult, but the legend says it was built back in the 15th century by two outlawed brothers, based on the old Welsh law of ty unos – a house of a single night. If you could build four walls and have smoke coming out of the chimney between sunset and sunrise, you got the freehold of the land.

• Most Tai Unnos were originally made of turf and soil, with a roughly thatched roof. • Once established, the walls were often replaced with local materials, including clay and stone. • The squatter/settlers, who generally worked in local quarries and mines, built up small holdings and began to practice farming.

The Tai Unnos (One Night Houses) influenced architecture over the centuries. Here are some examples of traditional Welsh houses, which have been rebuilt in St Fagans.

Hendre'r Ywydd Uchaf farmhouse, St Fagans 1508

Hawk and Buckle Inn cockpit

Stryd Lydan Barn, St Fagans

Nant Wallter Cottage

Cae Adda byre

Abernodwydd Farmhouse

Kennixton Farmhouse

High quality timber and slates, which were made available

via the new railways resulted in the emergence of superior, two-storey cottages. Single storey Ty Unnos cottages were modified by raising the roofs and enlarging the windows.

The slate industry grew slowly until the early 18th century, then expanded rapidly until the late 19th century, at which time the most important slate producing areas were in northwest Wales

Senedd influenced • with approximately 1,000 tonnes (157,500 stone) of Welsh slate used. The building was designed to reflect the many different parts of Wales with local Welsh materials that dominate its history: slate, metal, wood and glass.All the materials used come from Wales; the Centre was built from 1,350 tonnes of Welsh slate,

Wales millennium centre The building was designed to reflect the many different parts of Wales with local Welsh materials that dominate its history: slate, metal, wood and glass.All the materials used come from Wales; the Centre was built from 1,350 tonnes of Welsh slate,